How to sideload apps like Kodi or SPMC on the Amazon Fire TV & Stick using Downloader

This guide will walk you through the steps of installing (a.k.a. sideloading) a 3rd-party app, like Kodi, onto any Amazon Fire TV or Fire TV Stick. This guide uses my own app, called Downloader, which is available for free from the Amazon Appstore. You do not need a computer, an external drive, a keyboard, ADB, or anything else to follow this guide. All you need is your Fire TV remote and about a minute of your time. This is currently the quickest way to sideload apps on the Fire TV or Firestick, and is easier than using ES File Explorer.

Contents

Using Direct Download URL

For the new Fire TV interface, this is underSettings > Device > Developer Options

For the old Fire TV interface, this is underSettings > System > Developer Options

Install Downloader from Amazon’s Appstore onto your device. You can find it by simply searching for “Downloader” on your device.

Launch Downloader and enter the URL of the APK file you want to install.
For Kodi v18, use the short URL:bit.ly/kodi181apk (Mirror: bit.ly/kodi181mirror)
For Kodi v17.6, use the short URL:bit.ly/kodi176 (Mirror: bit.ly/kodi176mirror)

Select the “Download” button and wait for the APK file to download.

Once the file finishes downloading, it will automatically ask to be installed. Press down a few times on your remote to select the “Install” button at the bottom right of the screen.

When the APK file finishes installing, you can select to delete the APK you downloaded now that the app is installed.

Please consider donating through the buttons on the app’s Home screen to support the app, or support AFTVnews as a whole by becoming a patron on Patreon.

Using Browser(for when direct URL is unknown)

For the new Fire TV interface, this is underSettings > Device > Developer Options

For the old Fire TV interface, this is underSettings > System > Developer Options

Install Downloader from Amazon’s Appstore onto your device. You can find it by simply searching for “Downloader” on your device.

Launch Downloader and enter the website URL where the app you want to install is located. For example, enter kodi.tv for Kodi or enter spmc.semperpax.com for SPMC. You can try sites like apkmirror.com or apkpure.com to see if they have the app you want. Note that you may need to enable JavaScript in the settings of Downloader for certain websites to work correctly. When asked, select to open the URL in the browser.

To navigate the page, use the circular direction buttons on your Fire TV remote to move the cursor and the center button to click links. Find and click the app download link. For example, for Kodi click “Downloads” at the top of the page and select the “ARM” link, and for SPMC select the “ARM32 APK” link.

Once the file finishes downloading, it will automatically ask to be installed. Press down a few times on your remote to select the “Install” button at the bottom right of the screen.

When the APK file finishes installing, you can select to delete the APK you downloaded now that the app is installed.

Please consider donating through the buttons on the app’s Home screen to support the app, or support AFTVnews as a whole by becoming a patron on Patreon.

112 comments

Love the idea and would love to see it have a option of just downloading
To a certain location like the root of internal storage.I use a app kodi back up a and restore and when i backup it creates a kodi.zip file in root of internal storage
And i want to be able to have a link to it so i can share it with friends and family

The xfinity app works. You can buy the mouse toggle app to turn your remote into a mouse. Can get that app on play store or fire tv store. Also remember apps2fire app on play store can transfer apps super fast. Also cleanmaster app on fire tv can delete unwanted apk files automatically. Love the idea of the app. Definitely add a list of good apps that work. Also tell if they require mouse support.

12/04/2016
Where exactly did you download the XFinity TV App APK that works on your Fire TV. I tried several on my Fire TV 2 (2015) that just abort and do nothing when they are run. Could you email me the APK file that works for you.
Thanks,
PeterPeter.L.Schroeder@gmail.com

12/04/2016
Where exactly did you download the XFinity TV App APK that works on your Fire TV. I tried several on my Fire TV 2 (2015) that just abort and do nothing when they are run. Could you email me the APK file that works for you.
Thanks,
PeterPeter.L.Schroeder@gmail.com

Wow…. Look at you! Way to go. Not only can you write great articles, but now you are writing code! Great helper app. Simple, clean, and I bet you it will become very popular…. and it’s free! Keep up the great work!

I really like this. Thank you for the simple design. Using a sideloaded browser, I just copied and pasted the sample Kodi URL into Downloader. Very easy. Just curious, although I know how to resize sideloaded app icons to the necessary resolution to look better in the Recent menu, is there a possibility that this function could be built into Downloader?

someone can help me with Express Vpn app?
I installed the app on Firetv 2 but when i open the app the screen is outsize and i cannot use nothing cause all firetv apps are outsized.
What happen on my firetv?

I recommend doing a google search for a video on how to turn your fire tv remote into a mouse. Then you can move around the screen, even if everything is “outsized.” I did this a while ago and can’t remember where I found the video, but if I can find it (I am so NOT techie) then you can too.

This is really nice! I hadn’t loaded Kodi onto my wife’s home office tv’s 1st gen stick because she mainly did Netflix, Prime, etc. But she asked the other day so I literally just did a full Kodi plus the Kodi for Emby addon (we use Emby for all our local stuff) and it took me maybe 5 minutes to get it all loaded. That vs. a process that would take maybe 5x as long.

This thing is just a very nice, easy to use, handy little app. Many thanks, going right now back to Amazon to give it 5 stars!!!!

Hi Elias, Great job on all the Amazon Updates of how to’s and sales and everything else.
Aside from that….on you Downloader App. I have a quick question maybe you or another person reading this can help me with…. I download an APK but I keep getting ”Parse Error”. Any idea what I’m doing wrong or what I can do to fix it? Thanks in advance!

Hi
Love your app. It worked great. I used it to roll back from kodi 17 back to kodi Jarvis the file is there stored on the left hand side under files as it should be. Problem is for me to launch kodi. I have to press install every time I want to use kodi.
Do you now a way I can link it to my apps on the firestick from your downloader app so the kodi icon is there ready to use on my firestick homepage as was Before I went updated kodi 17.and had to uninstall it. Please would be. Rey grateful for help

I downloaded the downloaded and made sure the adb debugging and the apps from unknown are turned on and when I type in the URL in the downloaded it says an unknown error has occurred. Check the URL and connection. I checked both of them but still can’t figure out the problem. Any suggestions??

Ever since I updated to the newest/current version of Downloader, when I try to download my apk it thinks its a dot zip? Its an apk file that works from any other device even downloading from ES File Explorer, but that’s a awful app… Downloader list it as a .zip and will not install it. Anyone else see this with the new version? If so anyone know how to fix this, and if it will be patch?

I don’t get a .apk file extension changed to a .zip but Downloader does change it from a .apk to a .txt file on my Fire TV 1. I can rename the file back to a .apk with another app and then I can install it but I have no idea why the file gets renamed by Downloader. I get this when trying to download Kodi 161 from the link on this page used as an example:

Thanks for the links to download so easy to use and update. I picked the 171 link key it in and loaded to ftv. I just installed it over k16.1 all my apps were there in the 17.1 started watching . This is the easiest loading of K I have done,no more side load crap on to the ftv.

I’m trying to install Kodi on my amazon fire tv. I followed all your steps. I used downloader and downloaded the APK file. However I could not install it since the option “Allow Appsfrom unknown sources are not enabled”. The problem is in my device under settings=>Developer Options i only have ADB debugging option only. I dont have other options as shown in your screen shot. My software version is: 51.1.1.0_user_511070220.

Sorry I am new to this and a little confused all i really need to sideload is the nick jr. App that is in he android store. I can’t find a way to get the short urL. Does anyone know what it is? OR how to just download that Apple. THANk you

So i use kodi on my amazon firestick as a rotating picture frame for when guests come over. I have the original firestick and had 16.1 loaded on it. When i attempted to upgrade to 17.1 now that 17.3 is out everything went pretty smooth. That is until i tried reloading kodi after the update. Now all that loads is a black screen. I even tried reinstalling 16.1 back on it and still get nothing but a black screen. Any ideas how i can get kodi back?

Hi, I am trying to download kodi for my mate bit he doesn’t want to sign into his Amazon account, is the a way of watching kodi without signing in??
I heard of firestarter? Which pops up on the registration page, if so can you direct me please

Hello trying to download kodi 17.5 on new Fire tv (3rd gen brand new one) going though downloader using kodi.tv clicking on all the android icons then pick the 32bit like before now I get a message saying. An unknown error has occurred. Check your URL and connection. I get the same trying the 64bit version too

you will need your UFC Fight Pass credentials to watch the live events. You also necessarily need a VPN so you can spoof your location from prying eyes. Bottom line is, whichever method you may prefer out of the two, you definitely need to configure FastestVPN to watch UFC on Kodi. http://bit.ly/ufc220

Hi I am trying to get the downloader on my fire stick but I keep getting a “Purchase Error” It keeps saying that “there is no valid payment billing address” This is my dummy amazon account that I am using. I am trying to uninstall and re install Kodi onto my fire stick

I downloaded Kodi once but screwed something up so I did a factory reset and deleted both Kodi and the Downloader App, now when I try to download Kodi it just pops up with the download screen and just shows “connecting” and never does anything else. The other issue I have is if I try to click on any of the .APK files for Troypoint.com/ttv, The link highlights from blue to black and nothing further happens

I am having issues with connecting to the url I put in. This just started a few days ago. Just sits there saying connecting and never connects. Checked connections and signal strength all is very good other apps work just not Downloader when I type in address. If I use browser it loads up and everything just not the home section nothing pulls up

Downloader is not working as of 10/24/2018. It won’t connect to do the download. Is there something wrong . I have been using Downloader now for over a year and found it to be exstreamly relible. Any help would be appreciated. Thanks

I’m trying to download a file but when I try to install it on my Mecool box Google Play pops up and asking if I will allow downloader to install, however neither the “cancel” or the “allow” options work so I can’t install anything with the app. Any ideas?

Go to your devices main settings menu – > Apps – > App Management – > Find Downloader App on the list and click on it.
scroll down the app settings until you find an option to ‘Allow Apps from Unknown sources’
make sure you check the allow box.
Exit your settings and you should be good to go downloading with the Downloader app.